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[11/11/2020 | 21:01 | Red Bull Arena,| International Friendly: Germany 1 vs 1 Czech Republic]
[46']
The second half began with Germany playing with renewed intensity, reasserting their dominance. Gündogan and Neuhaus pressed higher, forcing the Czech midfield to retreat to maintain their shape. Die Manshaft, as they are called, did not waste this mont of dominance, launching a few attacks forward.
Shots flew from long range, not troubling Pavlenka much in between the sticks. However, in the forty-eighth minute, Germany created a golden opportunity when Hofmann played a clever one-two with Brandt, sneaking by two defenders before threading a pass through to Waldschmidt. The Freiburg striker was through on goal, with Brabec on his shoulder, trying his best to interfere.
He managed to nudge the marker away, creating so separation, but Pavlenka rushed out bravely, spreading himself wide and blocking the shot with his body. The rebound spun loose, but Jelka was there to clear it before Brandt could pounce. "Another chance for Germany!" Rae exclaid. "Pavlenka with a crucial save! The Czechs are under serious pressure if this situation continues."
[52']
Germany continued to press, their dominance becoming evident by the second as their opponents entrenched themselves deeper in their own third. The midfielders moved the ball left and right, initiating attacks from both flanks, not giving their opponents a chance to settle. Löw on the touchline, could be seen gesturing frantically, urging his team to maintain the tempo.
In the fifty-second minute, Max received the ball on the left wing and imdiately drove at Mateju. The Czech right-back was already tiring from repeatedly tracking back, and Max sniffed it out. He feinted a breakthrough down the flank, but with a quick drop of the shoulder, he cut inside onto his right foot, creating separation.
His cross was whipped in with pace, curling toward the penalty spot where Waldschmidt had made a run beyond his man's shoulder. The striker rose above Brabec, getting solid contact with his header, but he couldn't bring it down, sending it flying over the bar.
"So close, Waldschmidt almost with a brace!" Rae roared. "The Freiburg striker is on top form tonight!"
"You can tell, he ca to make a statent," Stewart Robson added from the comntary booth. "Germany is creating chances at will, but they can't find a way past Pavlenka."
[58']
The Czech Republic, desperate to relieve the pressure, tried to launch a counter-attack. Kopic collected the ball deep in his own half after Trapp's goal kick was headed clear by Jelka. The winger drove forward at pace, but Baku was tracking him diligently.
As Kopic approached the halfway line, he attempted a through ball to Krncík, who had dropped deep looking for possession. But Tah read it perfectly, stepping across to intercept with his long stride. The Leverkusen defender imdiately turned and played it forward to Gündogan.
"Good reading from Tah," Rae observed. "He's been solid all evening alongside Rüdiger."
Germany recycled possession again, this ti working it patiently through the thirds. Neuhaus dropped deep to collect from Rüdiger, then played it wide to Hofmann on the right. The Gladbach midfielder took one touch before cutting inside, drawing two Czech defenders toward him.
With space opening up on the left, he played a diagonal ball across the pitch to Max, who had acres of room. The Stuttgart left-back controlled it and imdiately looked up, spotting Brandt making a run toward the edge of the box. Looking up, he whipped in a curving cross into the box before Antonín Barák, the opposing defensive midfielder, could interfere.
The ball floated perfectly through the air, curling away from Pavlenka and toward the late-arriving Brandt. The Dortmund playmaker t it, twisting his body, attempting to side-foot the incoming ball in a first-ti strike. The strike was far from clean, but it had a lot of power, sending the ball rifling goalward, flying past Filip Novak toward the bottom corner.
Pavlenka barely managed to move his feet, unable to react to the shot, but lady luck still favoured him. (KANG) The loud clang of the ball smacking against the bottom of the post resounded through the ground before it rebounded into the air. The Czechian keeper reacted instinctively, diving low to smother the rebounding ball.
"Pavlenka again!" Derek Rae shouted over the Leipzig hum. "This ti, he got help from the post, but he won't be complaining as he denied Germany once again!"
[61']
On the touchline, Joachim Löw turned toward his bench, murmured a few words to Marcus Sorg, and nodded. The assistant coach gave the signal. Monts later, the fourth official raised his board:
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Numbers:
22 - Rex ->
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